Students Encouraged to Help Support Participating Big Ten Men’s Basketball Coaches

CHICAGO – As part of its pro-social initiative BTN LiveBIG, the Big Ten Network (BTN) will join the American Cancer Society in the support of Suits and Sneakers™ Awareness Weekend Jan. 24-26, when coaches wear sneakers with their suits during games to raise awareness of the fight against cancer.

BTN is televising games at Northwestern, Purdue, Indiana and Nebraska that weekend and is working with the universities and the society to encourage students on each campus to wear suits and sneakers to the games. The university with the most students “suited up” will receive a $10,000 donation to the school’s Relay for Life Initiative, which raises critical funds for cancer research. The donation will be presented at halftime of a home game in February.

“Big Ten students are not only the best college sports fans in the country but they also have big hearts,” said Erin Harvego, BTN vice president of marketing. “Through BTN LiveBIG, we are excited to provide an opportunity with the American Cancer Society for students to support not only their school and their coach but also this great cause. We expect to see some very creative suit/sneakers combinations in the student sections that weekend.”

Coaches’ participation in Suits and Sneakers Awareness Weekend provides a visual reminder that prevention is key when it comes to blocking cancer before it takes center court in people’s lives, said Natalie Morrison, American Cancer Society managing director for Coaches vs. Cancer. “Thanks to BTN and Coaches vs. Cancer supporters, the American Cancer Society is able to provide hope, support and answers to the nearly 14 million cancer survivors celebrating another birthday this year.”

Each student wearing a suit will need to visit a specially designated check-in station at each arena before the second half of the game in order to be counted and compete for the $10,000 donation.

The annual event is coordinated by the Coaches vs. Cancer program, a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Since 1993, participating coaches have helped raise more than $85 million for the society’s lifesaving work. For more information on Suits and Sneakers™ Awareness Weekend, please visit www.coachesvscancer.org.

BTN LiveB1G is a television program and website which shines a light on the community of Big Ten students, faculty and alumni who are making a difference in the world through innovations in research, education and community service. For more information on upcoming episodes, please visit BTNLiveBIG.com.

Students looking for more information on participating in Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers™ Awareness Weekend can call 800-227-2345, or visit RelayForLife.org/Nebraska.